Deuteronomy 15 15

Deuteronomy 15:15 kjv

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.

Deuteronomy 15:15 nkjv

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today.

Deuteronomy 15:15 niv

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

Deuteronomy 15:15 esv

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.

Deuteronomy 15:15 nlt

Remember that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you! That is why I am giving you this command.

Deuteronomy 15 verses

Deuteronomy 15 15 Meaning

Deuteronomy 15:15 is a foundational reminder connecting God's past redemptive act with Israel's present ethical obligations. It commands Israel to recall their state of servitude in Egypt and Yahweh's powerful liberation. This profound experience of divine grace serves as the primary motivation and moral imperative for their obedience to the specific laws given, particularly those pertaining to releasing slaves and showing generosity to the needy. The verse emphasizes that remembering God's mercy should inspire them to extend similar mercy and justice to others, echoing God's character.

Deuteronomy 15 15 Context

Deuteronomy 15 is part of Moses' second major discourse to the Israelites before they enter the promised land, reiterating and expounding the laws given at Mount Sinai. Chapter 15 specifically addresses social justice laws concerning the sabbatical year (shemitah) for debt cancellation (verses 1-11) and the release of Hebrew servants after six years of service (verses 12-18). The immediate context of verse 15 is the instruction regarding Hebrew servitude: after six years, a Hebrew servant must be released and generously provisioned. This law prevented permanent enslavement of Israelites and promoted communal care. Verse 15 provides the core theological motivation for these regulations. It connects Israel's collective historical experience of redemption from Egyptian bondage directly to their present responsibility to practice mercy and justice towards their own brethren. The verse acts as a reminder that their societal laws must reflect the character of the God who delivered them from slavery.

Deuteronomy 15 15 Word analysis

• You shall remember:
  • Hebrew: זָכַר (zakhar).
  • More than mere intellectual recall; it signifies active remembering that influences present behavior. It implies internalizing a past event to shape identity and action. This remembrance is the foundation for covenant fidelity.
• that you were:
  • Highlights their past status, a condition of weakness, vulnerability, and dependence.
• a slave:
  • Hebrew: עֶבֶד (eved).
  • Connotes complete subservience, lack of freedom, hard labor, and harsh conditions. Israel's state was one of ownership and oppression under a foreign power.
• in the land of Egypt:
  • Refers to a specific historical reality and geographic location, providing undeniable evidence of their former oppression. Egypt represents a kingdom of bondage, self-reliance, and oppressive rule, in stark contrast to God's reign of freedom.
• and the Lord your God:
  • Emphasizes the personal covenantal relationship ("your God") and the specific, sovereign actor (Yahweh, Adonai) in their redemption. It highlights God's unique identity as the deliverer.
• redeemed you:
  • Hebrew: פָּדָה (padah).
  • To ransom, buy back, or deliver through powerful intervention, often implying a cost or a mighty act. It means God literally set them free from their slavery. This act of liberation was not earned but was an expression of divine grace.
• therefore:
  • Establishes a direct logical and moral consequence. It's the hinge connecting past grace to present obligation. God's action demands a human response.
• I command you:
  • Hebrew: צָוָה (tsavah).
  • A divine imperative, an authoritative decree. It underscores the divine origin and mandatory nature of the instructions that follow. It is not merely advice but a command from their rescuer and Lord.
• this today:
  • Refers to the specific regulations given in the immediate context of Deuteronomy 15, emphasizing the urgency and present applicability of the command. It grounds abstract principles in concrete, daily obedience.

Words-group analysis

• You shall remember that you were a slave: This phrase emphasizes empathy born from shared experience. It mandates putting themselves in the shoes of the vulnerable, connecting their own history to the needs of others.
• and the Lord your God redeemed you: This highlights God's sovereignty and grace as the sole source of their freedom. It’s a profound theological statement, indicating that their liberation was a divine act, not achieved by their own might.
• therefore I command you this today: This powerful transition directly links divine action (redemption) to human responsibility (command). It's the foundational principle for much of Israelite social law—compassion and justice are not merely good ideas but required responses to God's prior grace. The this today grounds the universal principle in a specific, immediate application.

Deuteronomy 15 15 Bonus section

This verse contains a subtle polemic against the values of ancient Near Eastern empires, like Egypt, which thrived on state-sponsored forced labor and hierarchy. By commanding compassion and release based on divine redemption, God presents a radically different societal model where grace and justice supersede ruthless economic efficiency or human dominion. The emphasis on "remembering" also serves as a pedagogical tool, ensuring that each generation understood their unique history and its theological implications. The divine command here is prescriptive for national identity: Israel's future was to be shaped by this foundational act of redemption, fostering a society characterized by care for the marginalized, rather than a cycle of oppression they had endured. This also laid the groundwork for future prophetic messages calling for justice (e.g., Amos, Isaiah), always rooting the appeal back to Israel's origin and God's character.

Deuteronomy 15 15 Commentary

Deuteronomy 15:15 encapsulates the very heart of the Deuteronomic covenant and much of biblical ethics. It functions as a powerful theological anchor for laws concerning social justice, especially those pertaining to the vulnerable. The verse reveals that the call for ethical conduct is not arbitrary but flows directly from the memory of God's redemptive love. Because God freely delivered Israel from brutal bondage, Israel is now morally bound to extend similar grace and freedom to those in their midst who are enslaved, poor, or disadvantaged. Their past suffering and God's powerful deliverance demand that they not become oppressors themselves but instead reflect God's compassion and justice within their society. This foundational principle discourages complacency and self-serving amnesia, constantly challenging Israel to live as a people transformed by divine grace. It implicitly argues against any form of exploitation by grounding national law in divine mercy. For example, remembering their forced separation from families and denial of wages in Egypt should lead them to provide ample provisions for a released servant (Deut 15:13-14).